Tie of save mark gets away from OlsonCLEVELAND -- Relief...

ORIOLES NOTEBOOK

October 05, 1992|By Peter Schmuck | Peter Schmuck,Staff Writer

CLEVELAND — Tie of save mark gets away from Olson

CLEVELAND -- Relief pitcher Gregg Olson came within one out of tying his club record for saves in a season, but he bounced a curveball past catcher Jeff Tackett in the ninth inning to bring home the tying run and blow the opportunity for his 37th save.

Olson came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth after the Orioles Orioles notebook

rallied from a two-run deficit to take the lead in the top of the inning. He got himself into trouble with a leadoff walk to Felix Fermin and it got worse when pinch runner Kenny Lofton came on to steal his league-leading 66th base of the season.

Lofton moved to third on a ground out by Carlos Baerga, but Olson appeared ready to work out of trouble when he got Albert Belle on a called third strike. Designated hitter Paul Sorrento was at the plate when Olson bounced the pitch past Tackett to allow Lofton to tie the game.

Cal's early exit

As expected, manager Johnny Oates removed Cal Ripken early in the game in favor of rookie Manny Alexander, though not as early as he originally planned. Ripken stayed long enough to get two at-bats, then was replaced in the field after the Orioles' half of the fourth inning. It still was the earliest voluntary exit of his consecutive-games streak, which reached 1,735 games yesterday.

Ripken's perfect attendance

Ripken completed his 10th consecutive season without missing a game, but he wasn't alone this year. Three other major-league players appeared in every game this year -- former teammate Steve Finley and two of his Houston Astros teammates, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.

Orioles leaders

Right-hander Mike Mussina finished the year leading the major leagues with a .783 winning percentage. He is the first Oriole to lead the majors in the department since Steve Stone did it in 1980. Veteran Rick Sutcliffe finished 1992 leading the majors in starts, becoming the first Oriole to do that since Jim Palmer in 1977.

Hoiles sets record

Catcher Chris Hoiles set a dubious major-league record this season. Hoiles, who drove in 40 runs, had the fewest RBI by a player with 20 or more home runs in a season.

Hoiles also is the second player in major-league history to have 15 or more homers and not have more than twice as many RBI. New York Yankees infielder Kevin Maas was the other, hitting 21 homers and driving in 41 runs in 1990.

Numbers game

The Orioles ended the season with:

* The American League's best record in one-run games (22-13), compared with 18-35 last year.

* Their most shutouts (16) since 1978.

* Fewer than 100 errors for a record fourth straight year and for the fifth time in club history.

* Their best record in night games (69-43) since 1979.

* Their fewest runs allowed since 1983.

* Their fewest hits allowed since 1979.

* Their fewest home runs allowed since 1979.

Opportunity lost

The Orioles had a chance to set an unofficial major-leagurecord for the fewest unearned runs in a season, but they allowed two unearned runs in the fourth to exceed the 39 given up by the 1982 Orioles.

Deep, but not driven

Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles had 40 RBI this season, the lowest total in major-league history among players with at least 20 home runs: